Feedback on Nexium Side Effects and Usage, page 19

Nexium Side Effects

If you’ve used Nexium, please help others by sharing your feedback. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.Subj: Nexium/prilosecDate: 2/28/2008Nexium/prilosec are horrible and dangerous drugs. I wouldn’t recommend them for anything other than ulcer/baretts.

Kevin

Subj: PrevacidDate: 2/29/2008I believe I have been on nexium for 2+ years, I do have some of the side effects but nothing severe, it beats the upset stomach I used to have. It definitely has helped me, but I do have concerns how long I can stay on it. I do have a question, my insurance would like me to switch to prevacid(lansoprazole) how effective is it? Thank you

Gary

AskDocWeb: Prevacid works well for a significant number of people but exact percentages do not seem to be published. It appears that you have to fail on prevacid before the insurance company will pay for the Nexium.

Subj: Sore back and sore breastDate: 3/2/2008Hi I was put on nexium, after 4 days I have a sore back and a very sore left breast. Do you think this has come from the nexium? I have stopped taking it but I still have the symptoms. Thank you,

Sandra

AskDocWeb: There may be something else wrong, please see your physician.

Subj: Fluttering in chestDate: 3/5/2008I have been on Nexium for 4 – 5 years now. Started on 40mg and a year ago I reduced down to 20mg per day with no detrimental affects. I have started getting an occasional gurgling and fluttering in my chest – no pain. Is this something to worry about.

Chris

AskDocWeb: That fluttering sensation in the chest may be heart palpitations and needs to be reported to your doctor.

Subj: Weight gain, burning with Bowel movement, CrampsDate: 3/10/2008I have been on Nexium for over a year now and in reading this page(s) I see that I am experiencing many of the same problems. Weight gain, burning with Bowel movement, Cramps. What systems will I look for when I stop taking this pill? Also I am a pill to help control weight gain.. When I stop nexuim can’t I stop the other pill also???

Ted

AskDocWeb: You will have to address that question to your personal health care provider (who knows the name of that other pill).

Subj: NEXIUM definitely causes weight gainDate: 3/12/2008Ok…Nexium is an amazing drug for symptomatic relief…I have LPRD, in with acid refluxes in to my throat, sinus and causes referred ear pain. If left untreated it can lead to cancer. NO ONE wants cancer!!! But on the flip side…I still reflux so gaviscon or something like Mylanta with the foam barrier solves the reflux…BUT nexium is THE solver of the acid damage. However…NEXIUM definitely causes weight gain…no doubt!!! I am up 30 solid pounds in 16mths.I know many many people are complaining of the weight gain so this has to be greater than 1%! Let’s face it this drug has not been around for long term review. When I try to come off the drug it is like everyone else….you are uncomfortable after a couple of days. Gaining weight ADDS to gerd problems… does anyone have an alternative? I have to get this weight off…but I do not want cancer….my doc says no way does nexium cause weight gain but his nurse….discreetly said yes way!!!

Angela

Subj: Hot flushes & burning in the headDate: 3/20/2008I have been taking Nexium for 3 days, only a very slight improvement in reflux. At around 3- 4pm each day I have been getting hot flushes & burning in the head, not too bad, but should I be worried & consult the doctor. Is there an alternative to Nexium?

Kati

AskDocWeb: Yes, consult with your doctor.

Subj: Withdrawing the NexiumDate: 3/23/2008Hi, I’ve been on Nexium 40 mg daily for over 6 years at least. Recently I stopped taking the pills as my last two endoscopies were fine and it’s so expensive. I haven’t experienced too much acid reflux since I stopped but I have been experiencing alot of stomach cramping and the feeling of having to have a bowel movement constantly. Is this due to withdrawing the Nexium cold turkey? The first week off I seemed fine, this started around the second week after I stopped. How long can I expect this to last – if anything, before I went off the Nexium I was always constipated! Has anyone else experienced this?

Erika

Subj: Weight gain is terrible!Date: 3/24/2008I found your website very helpful. I’ve been taking Celebrex for a little over 2 weeks now because of low back pain. The weight gain is terrible! Even though I exercise every day, the pounds keep packing on around my middle. Today is the last day I’m taking Celebrex. It helped with my pain, but not well enough to put up with any weight gain.

Cindy

Subj: Is it worth it?Date: 3/26/2008I have been on Nexium for 3 weeks and feel awful, I have serious wind probs, pain in my left side to the back followed by wind, going right up to my chest, I have conjunctivitis, I feel lethargic and tired all time, my top lip is sore and dry, none of this did I have till I used this tablet, it solves the heartburn and reflux, but is it worth it?…my general well being from 1-10 is nil!

Irene

Subj: Chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, and weight gainDate: 3/28/2008I have been taking Nexium for about three years now, and my doctor also didn’t say ANYTHING about how it should be used short-term. I have been experiencing chest pain also, dizziness, shortness of breath, and weight gain. I stopped taking it for ONE day and have not had the pain. Obviously they need to take this pill off the market, too many side effects. I have been through SO MANY tests thinking I had a heart problem, anxiety, gall bladder stones, etc. and even the CT scan was NORMAL. I am only 24 and shouldn’t be feeling all that!

Annie

Subj: Weight gain with Requip and SingularDate: 3/31/2008I am currently taking Nexium, at bedtime, Requip .05mg at bedtime and Singular at bedtime. I have been on these medications for two months and have recently gained 25 lbs. after the first month. I find this scary but my Doctor did not mention anything about the weight gain at my last visit. Is there any thing to worry about this much weight gain in such a short period. There has been no major change in diet.

Robt.

AskDocWeb: It depends on what your weight was when you started. For someone who was underweight, a 25 pound gain may be a good thing. You can check your BMI here to find out if this is becoming a problem or not.

Subj: Sleeping is horribleDate: 4/4/2008I’ve been taking Nexium for about 3 years. I started out 40 mg once a day. It helped a LOT…then a few weeks later it wasn’t enough. Doc upped the dosage to 40 mg twice a day…that helped. A few weeks later it wasn’t enough. A couple years into it, I backed off the dosage to 40 mg a day again…better. Now it’s not enough again. While on antibiotics for C.diff, my acid reflux was almost non-existent and got off my Nexium. However a couple weeks later, it started back up again. I asked my doctor if I had been checked for H.pylori…he said he did. My sleeping is horrible. Any one else experiencing this…any suggestions?

Subj: Stomach pain and weight gainDate: 4/10/2008Have been on Nexium for about 3months. I have a visiy laye one night to the ER no one could explain my extreme stomach pain and spasms. I am trying to lose weight but putting it on. What’s the general opinion, does this stuff prevent weight loss? I look 5mth pregnant!

Bev

AskDocWeb: Many people have gained weight with Nexium.

Subj: Alternative?Date: 4/10/2008I think insurance company is about ready to stop paying for my Nexium. Can you tell me if there is an OTC medicine that works well? Thank you for any information you can provide.

Judy

AskDocWeb: Many people say they get good results with Prilosec OTC.

Subj: Tightening feeling in throatDate: 4/14/2008I have been using Nexium since Aug. 2007. Around the same time as beginning this medicine, my throat now has a tightening feeling. I compare this feeling to wearing a tight turtle-neck sweater. It is worse at night. I have a hard time sleeping on my back due to this feeling. I am not having any problems with breathing. Could this tight feeling in my throat be the result of Nexium?

Rebecca

AskDocWeb: It is not listed as a side effect but since it interferes with your sleep discuss it with your doctor.

Subj: Is this true?Date: 4/15/2008I have a 16 year old daughter who has been sick since September 2007 she has been taking nexium for approximately 2 1/2 years. Her symptoms include back pain, neck pain, joint pain, jaw pain and headaches. She was recently diagnosed with JRA. I questioned her gastro doctor asking if any other patients have been complaining of these symptoms while taking nexium. She said that she has never heard of any of these symptoms being caused by nexium. I have researched and read that these are some of the side effects from nexium. Is this true?

B

AskDocWeb: The 2008 Physician’s Desk Reference lists headaches, joint pain, and back pain as side effects of Nexium.

Subj: This is not for meDate: 5/10/2008I’ve been taking Nexium for 3 weeks 40mg twice a day. I thought it was working great. Then I started having trouble sleeping started feeling down sort of depressed. I also started having stomach contractions and anxiety. You would think I got my information just by reading the side effects nope I read after my body warning me this is not for me.

Monica

Subj: Severe burning through my esophagus Date: 5/12/2008I have been taking Nexium for the past 7 days. To avoid side effects, my doctor wanted me to start on 10 mg once a day for the first 4 days and then 10 mg twice a day. Since there is no 10 mg capsule, I open a 20 mg capsule and pour half of it onto cool applesauce. I swallow it without chewing and wash down with water. On my 7th day, when I went to take my pre-dinner dose, I was feeling fine and took it the same way. Within two minutes of swallowing it, I developed a severe burning through my esophagus (from my throat to my stomach) that lasted for the whole night. It wasn’t acid causing it – in fact an hour later, I took Maalox to see if it would sooth it but it did nothing (normally, if I had heartburn, Maalox would help a little bit at least). I called my doctor the next morning and told him that I was worried that it was an allergic reaction. He said it was not. He said to keep taking the Nexium but to try the powdered suspension version instead. Since I would still have to divide that up, too (it also only comes as low as 20 mg), instead I went to a compounding pharmacy and had them convert all of my 20 mg capsules into 10 mg capsules, so that I could ensure that the pellets would stay encapsulated and not open until they’re supposed to. That seems to have worked as I’ve taken them 3 times now without any further problems. Have you ever heard of this happening before?

I’m guessing that it means that the Nexium pellets opened in my esophagus instead of when they were supposed to and caused the burning? Do you think that’s correct or what do you think caused it? Could that mean that there is some sort of ulcer or pocket in my esophagus where the Nexium pellets got caught? I had an esophagram two weeks ago that only showed that I have reflux – if I did have an ulcer or some sort of pocket in the esophagus, would that have shown up in the esophagram? Is the only way to tell if I have an ulcer in the esophagus to have an endoscopy? Also, in your experience, do people experience less side effects when they take half a dose twice a day rather than a full dose once a day? Thank you so much for your help.

Kara

AskDocWeb: Not sure what happened to you but one of the suggestions for people who have difficulty swallowing capsules is to open the capsule and carefully empty the pellets inside into a tablespoon of applesauce and mix together to be swallowed immediately. The applesauce should not be hot and should be soft enough to be swallowed without chewing. As long as you do not chew or crush the pellets there shouldn’t be a problem. But then GI issues are often difficult to resolve.

Note: The esophagram or barium swallow is a test where a patient drinks a barium sulfate compound that coats and outlines the walls of the esophagus. A series of x-rays are taken that enables the radiologist to study the function and appearance of the esophagus and assess the swallowing process. Read more feedback about Nexium.
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